China said “reunification” with Taiwan remained “inevitable” after President-elect William Lai Ching-te won crucial elections on Saturday on the autonomous island that Beijing claims as its own.
Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won despite warnings from China not to vote for him. According to the results of the Central Election Commission, he obtained 40.1 percent of the votes cast.
“I want to thank the Taiwanese people for writing a new chapter in our democracy,” Lai said in his victory speech. “We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will be on the side of democracy.”
In the run-up to the election, China denounced Lai as a dangerous separatist, said he would be a threat to peace in the region if he won, and called the election a choice between “peace and war.”
These are some of the reactions to the decisive vote:
Porcelain
“Taiwan is China's Taiwan,” Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua said in a statement carried by state news agency Xinhua, adding that the DPP “cannot represent the dominant public opinion in China.” the island”.
But he added that the vote “will not prevent the inevitable trend of China's reunification.”
While Taiwan has been self-governed since the 1940s, China still claims the island and its outlying territories.
The vote “will not change the basic picture and development trend of cross-Strait relations,” Binhua said. Beijing's stance on “realizing national reunification remains consistent and our determination is as firm as a rock.”
China “firmly opposes[s] separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference,” he added.
USA
The United States “does not support” Taiwan independence, President Joe Biden said, after reporters asked him about Washington's position on Taiwan's presidential vote.
The Biden administration has feared that the election, transition and new administration will escalate the conflict with Beijing.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory and praised the autonomous island's “robust democratic system and electoral process.”
Blinken added that Washington is “committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability and to the peaceful resolution of differences, free of coercion and pressure.”
Russia
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement that Moscow continued to view Taiwan as an integral part of China.
Moscow has repeatedly shown its support for Beijing's “One China” policy on the Taiwan issue.
European Union
The EU “welcomed” Taiwan's presidential election and congratulated all voters who “participated in this democratic exercise,” according to a statement, without mentioning President-elect Lai.
“The EU remains concerned about rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo,” said spokesman for EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell.
“The European Union underlines that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are key to regional and global security and prosperity.”
United Kingdom
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron congratulated Lai and said he hoped Taiwan and China would renew their efforts to resolve their differences peacefully.
“Today's election is a testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy,” Cameron said in a statement.
“I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew their efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion.”
Japan
Japan congratulated the good implementation of the democratic elections and Lai for his victory.
“We hope that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue, thereby contributing to peace and stability in the region,” he said in a statement, adding that Taiwan was an “extremely crucial partner” with whom Tokyo intended to ” deepen”. cooperation”.
Canada
Canada's Foreign Affairs Ministry congratulated the people of Taiwan after the election, but did not mention Lai.
“Guided by the pillars of democracy, human rights and peace, Canada looks forward to advancing its people-to-people, science, trade and investment ties,” the ministry said in a statement on the X social media platform.
Lithuania
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's foreign minister, congratulated Lai on his victory.
“Together with the people of Taiwan we celebrate the strength of a free and fair democracy,” he said in a post on X.
